LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -
The UNLV swimming and diving teams split their season opener on Saturday afternoon, as the Rebel men posted a 197-91 win over CSU Bakersfield, while the UNLV women fell to San Diego State by a 171-124 margin.

The UNLV men, who are in their first season as members of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation after ending their time in the Mountain West with a run of seven straight league titles, faced a CSUB squad that is the defending MPSF champion, but from the opening race it was all Rebels. UNLV would win all 14 swimming events, the only two events the Rebels did not win were the two diving events, and UNLV does not have any divers on its team this year. UNLV also showed off its depth, as a total of eight different Rebels won individual events.

Leading the way on Saturday were four double-event winners. Freshman Joseph Riggert won the 500 (4:40.50) and the 1000 free (9:36.78), Cory Roberts took first in the 100 back (50.45) and the 100 fly (48.92), Stephen Nelms finished first in the 50 (20.56) and 100 free (45.58) and Giacomo Gremizzi won the 200 free (1:43.23) and the 200 IM (1:55.46). Other winners included David Szele in the 100 breast (57.24), Balint Batka in the 200 fly (1:51.96), Chris Riley in the 200 back (1:53.29), and Andrew Morrell in the 200 breast (2:07.61).

UNLV swept both relays as well. Charlie Tapp, Morrell, Roberts and Nelms finished first in the 200 medley relay in 1:31.03, while Nelms, Tapp, Roberts and Guilherme Passos won the 400 free relay in 3:05.45.

On the women's side, the Rebel women took on the preseason favorites in the Mountain West, and would come away with a total of five individual wins. The highlight of the day for the Rebels was the performance of freshman Jessica Marsh, who won the 200 free in 1:50.87 and then added a victory in the 500 free in 4:59.27. Other wins on the day came from Rachel Dixon in the 50 free (23.93), Mariah Skeen on the 1-meter board (299.90) and Brittany Ozar in the 200 IM (2:08.97).

Both UNLV teams will return to action on Friday, Oct. 22, in a road dual meet at Arizona in Tucson.